Southampton’s fight for Premier League survival has become more difficult in recent weeks. The Saints are still bottom of the table and find themselves four points from safety with eight games to play.
On Saturday, Southampton will host 12th-place Crystal Palace at St Mary’s. The Eagles are experiencing a bounce after the sacking of Patrick Vieira and the re-appointment of Roy Hodgson. Since returning to the dugout, Hodgson has won back-to-back Premier League games.
Back on the road 🚘#CPFC | #SOUCRY pic.twitter.com/UyyUD9vzkF— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) April 13, 2023
Back on the road 🚘#CPFC | #SOUCRY pic.twitter.com/UyyUD9vzkF
Unlike Vieira, Hodgson has Crystal Palace scoring goals. The Eagles scored seven goals across the last two games, as they won relegation six-pointers against Leicester City and Leeds United. Saturday’s trip to the south coast is a third straight six-pointer in the relegation battle.
Palace are six points clear of the relegation zone thanks to the back-to-back wins provided by Hodgson. The Eagles have just eight wins in the league and 25% of those wins came via Hodgson.
Southampton and Crystal Palace met twice previously this season in the league and FA Cup. Palace claimed a 1-0 win at Selhurst Park in the league encounter.
Southampton came from behind to win the FA Cup fixture 2-1. The FA Cup match was also played at Selhurst Park.
Crystal Palace edged the Saints slightly in their last six head-to-head matches. The Eagles had a record of 3W-1D-2L. Four of the last five matches between the clubs ended with both teams scoring and over 2.5 goals.
Southampton interim manager Ruben Selles has six players in the treatment room ahead of the six-point relegation clash. Valentino Livramento is ruled out with an injury.
Che Adams is unlikely to make the squad following a calf injury. Mohamed Salisu is also unlikely to play following an injury.
Romeo Lavia could be passed fit following a thigh injury. However, Juan Larios will miss the match with a thigh muscle problem.
Hodgson will be without Wilfried Zaha following a groin injury. Nathan Ferguson and Chris Richards are both unlikely to make the team due to injuries.
Goalkeeper Vincente Guaita is ruled out with a calf injury.
Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise are in fine form going into the match with Southampton. Hodgson has unlocked the duo’s potential, something Vieira struggled to do.
Eze has five goals and three assists in the league. He scored against Leeds United at the weekend in a 5-1 romp at Elland Road.
Olise has two goals and five assists in the league. He had a hat-trick of assists against Leeds. It was the first time Olise had assisted a goal in seven matches.
Crystal Palace are flying high under Hodgson. The veteran manager should get another fine performance out of the Eagles in the relegation six-pointer with Southampton. Palace should win 2-1 and continue their good form.